Category: Houlton Maine

Welcome To Houlton Maine | Aroostook County

Welcome to Houlton Maine | Aroostook County

Houlton Maine, the oldest town in Aroostook County and a shire town. What is a shire town you wonder?

A shire town is the county seat and Aroostook is the largest of Maine’s sixteen counties. “The County” is bigger than Connecticut and Rhode Island combined and the largest east of the Mississippi.

What is it like in Houlton Maine?

Live Music, A Maine Community Band Supplies It Weekly For Free. That’s Maine.

How to best describe a small Maine town should not be left to a faraway team of writers cranking out press releases by the hundreds.

When you don’t live, work and play in that small Maine town.

If you never set foot in the community on vacation.

Did not spend some of your childhood, college or career years here.

Make It A Double, No Triple Black Raspberry Ice Cream At The Dairy “Bar”.

Or lack some sort of family connection in the small Maine town. (Crickets sound)

How do you “bring it all home” as Johnny Cash would tell his band while picking and grinning?

You can not. No rich experience perspective to draw from… To share what exactly it is really like here never happens.

The small Maine town blurb is just a wall of words from a couple Google search.

Good enough.

No.

No it is not. And it all starts to read like so many other generic write ups about small Maine communities.

So Houlton Maine, the up to date highlights.

There is the history, the current what to do for fun, what is it like and what’s ahead in Houlton Maine.

The total solar eclipse in Houlton Maine is coming up very quickly at the time of this hunt and peck blog post.

Let’s have a Houlton Farms Dairy ice cream and celebrate together in the darkness.

Hear all about this latest event where all hands on deck for total darkness, totality in Houlton Maine’s solar eclipse.

Eye Protection First Below Viewing The Total Solar Eclipse In Houlton Maine April 8th, 2024. Local Ambassador Clancy, The Boy With The Leaking Boot.

Everyone in the Greater Houlton Maine area volunteers to roll out the VIP welcome to our small Northern Maine town red carpet.

Okay, getting off community calendar of events mode and spill the facts, hit the details in listicle fashion.

Houlton Maine, (5-6-7-8) first just the numbers ….

Latest US Census Houlton population 6064 (Aroostook County population 67,351)

Exit 302, beginning of Interstate 95 (302 miles from Kittery, the Big Green Bridge)

Houlton Maine settled by Joseph Houlton and Aaron Putnam in 1807

(With a LOT of help from the local Maliseet first nation population.)

How far is Houlton from (pick the destination).

What can I tell you about Houlton Maine, the place?

Quick observations from a local native who calls Houlton Maine his home.

The people in my small Northern Maine town are friendly, helpful, funny and hardworking. Families are tightly knit and the Houlton and the ring of communities around the town pull together during tough times to help their neighbors.

You’re never alone in a small Maine town.

How do I know? Just pop the hood on your stalled car or pick up or snowmobile. Bang. Instantly all kinds of folks rise to the occasion and show up to help you out pronto.

Why? Because they can and someone else did the same for them.

They put themselves in your shoes and figure that could be me. Do something good.

Need a hand? Run out of gas? I have jumper cables for that tired battery or here. Here. Use my cell phone to make a call.

Welcome To Maine. How About A Super Sized Ice Cream Cone Treat?

Folks who live in the greater Houlton area surrounding communities take turns creating some amazing home grown experiences.

It’s not just Houlton Houlton Houlton (chanted like Marcia Marcia Marcia refrain).

For example, the Lumberman’s Museum in Patten Maine’s bean hole bean supper and yesteryear logging tour.

Walk through the sheds filled with axes, saws, chains, horse harnesses, peaveys, Lombards, twitch cables.

Learn about river runs and using the waterways to transport the logs to mills downstream.

The entire northwest half of Aroostook, Penobscot Counties is “The Great North Woods” where we hunt, fish, ply the vast trail network on ATV four wheelers and snowmobiles.

The Southern Aroostook Agricultural Museum community suppers and interesting farming exhibits in Littleton Maine.

Learn about local family farming traditions picking potatoes. Why Aroostook County is called the “Garden of Maine” and about her rich fertile farm field history.

I grew up on a Maine potato farm.

My four kids all picked fall harvest baskets of freshly dug golden farm field spuds.

To fill empty barrels then ticketed, hoisted up and hauled away for potato house winter storage.

The Family Farm Owned And Enjoyed By Me In Maine Author Andrew Mooers.

The work ethic learned heading out early and staying late in the Maine potato farm field is invaluable.

A child managing their own hard earned money is way more careful with impulse control spending it.

Climb aboard, ride the rails on a passenger train in Oakfield Maine.

All Aboard. Oakfield Maine Railroading Is Big In Southern Aroostook County!

Tour the train station that celebrates the Bangor & Aroostook Railroad rich history hauling potatoes and passengers through out “The County” and beyond.

Stay at one of many woods camp sporting lodges in Southern Aroostook, Northern Penobscot and Washington Counties.

Houlton Maine is at the crossroads of US RT 1, 2, 2A and I-95 that connects to the Trans Canada highway.

Explore the recreation trails any of Maine’s four seasons. Get away from the noisy slow moving crowds and break free.

Run away up to camp in Maine.

Unplug and recharge in front of a crackling wood’s fire under the star filled sky.

Earning Your Spending Money. Managing Your Own Savings! Creates Impulse Control & Life Skills.

The silence is deafening at first. You replace the city sounds of EMS vehicle sirens, jet engines overhead, honking horns.

No garbage truck back up alarms and clanging dumpster bin sounds.

Visit one of many Amish communities surround the Houlton Maine area of Southern Aroostook.

The local farm to table vegetables, home made baked goods taste delicious and you get to know the grower and their families.

Others living off the land peddle their produce at the area local farmer’s markets. Farm to table is a beautiful thing.

Four seasons outdoor natural unspoiled beauty is what surrounds Houlton Maine in Southern Aroostook County.

In all directions, you can hit the rec trails and find total peace and quiet. See wildlife, watch the seasons changes and hear yourself think.

No better place to raise a family, run a small business, retire or vacation than Houlton Maine. Period.

Houlton Maine, US border town with perks, Gateway to Atlantic Canadian Provinces.

The on the border distinction provides visitors with a two nation vacation experience.

Head over to Hartland New Brunswick to cross the longest covered wooden bridge in the World.

Or down to Nackawic to see the largest axe on the planet. Visit Kings Landing to step back in time in an early Canadian settlement.

The International boundary line border crossing creates lots of jobs. US Border Patrol, Customs, Immigration employment generate money for the local economy.

Country Rides Around Houlton Maine. Do You Have This Kind Of Scenery Where You Live Now?

Those jobs and others attract new families who add so much to Houlton Maine and the surrounding communities.

No better place to raise your family, start a small business or enjoy the blend of work and play in Northern Maine!

Houlton Maine. it hits you as you drive the streets.

These people are friendly, courtesy, let me go at the four way stop sign with a smile.

Everyone nods hello or makes a how you doing comment. No one has a need of a taser.

No one is worried about personal safety.

Living where you want to be makes a major improvement in anyone’s attitude.

Maine pulls on your heartstrings that way.

Attractive, Preserved Victorian Style Brick Buildings In Market Square, Houlton Maine. Aroostook County’s Oldest Town, It’s Shiretown At I-95 Exit 302.

Full of gorgeous Victorian era architecture and grand well preserved older houses.

Classy historic downtown loaded with brick structures in Market Square. are used for a variety of community events.

Watch the Farmer’s Market held in Market Square, Houlton Maine.

Grab a fresh hot home made donut from Sadie’s Bakery that’s been serving them up and more since 1948.

Visit the County Co Op for a healthy tasty lunch or break time snack. Take in a movie at the Temple Theater in Market Square Houlton Maine.

Several nearby lakes, a golf course, ski area, river walk, recreation trails a short drive from Houlton Maine.

Houlton Maine Area Residents Ice Fish, Snowmobile, Cross Country Ski On Area Lakes.

Houlton Maine is served by large, full service modern health care facilities.

Small Houlton International airport for private and commercial pilots.

Fly Into Houlton Maine’s Airport. Are You A Private Pilot?

Large farms, heavily forested land and level to rolling terrain surround greater Houlton Maine, Southern Aroostook County.

Diversified employment (Smith & Wesson, Louisiana Pacific, Tate & Lyle)

Low cost power from not for profit Houlton Water Company keep juice prices attractive.

Local high speed Internet broadband connections second to none in Houlton Maine (Pioneer, Consolidated, other providers).

In small Maine towns get used to low crime (Maine is 4th least crime state in USA) and no traffic.

Looking, Flying Over Houlton Maine, The County’s Oldest Town.

Want to go to Walmart shopping quick and easy or to the local hardware store while puttering?

No time suck getting what you need or even double tracking back for the right item if you mess up. Have to back track for a second try to get it right. To cross off the DIY to do list.

Small towns like Houlton Maine are way easier to maneuver.

All Ages Picked Maine Potatoes In The Farm Field.

Less time spent at traffic lights or in grid lock. Your fellow motorists are way way kinder, gentler and no angry hand gestures.

Welcome to Houlton Maine, the way life should be.

Space, clean surroundings, friendly locals and home town pride volunteering. Find that in Houlton Maine. Your neighbors check in and want to help when you are struggling. You want to give back and pitch in to make the community what it is. Pick an event, that’s your contribution for life and you love it.

Small towns like Houlton Maine are not pay the price of a ticket to attend an event.

It’s working behind the scenes volunteering to put on the event year after year. That’s the way you give back and how you get to know the other members of your small but mighty population.

Houlton Maine had the largest local soap box derby race in the nation five years running.

Check out a soap box race on Derby Hill inspired and engineered like the All America race in Akron Ohio.

Way more satisfying living because you and I are the community where the small Maine towns offer smaller circles.

Everyone tightly connected in towns like Houlton Maine.

There is not the disconnect I hear about from people living in crowded areas. Where just too many people and you find a wall of impersonal and keep your distance. Back off Jack.

So to sum it up, small town Houlton Maine living provides wide open outdoor recreation.

Maine Youth Working The Maine Potato Harvest. Did Not Hurt Their Work Ethic!

Lower cost real estate, less traffic and crime. You get more nature experiences, meet friendlier people, enjoy a sense of community. Most of the recreation is low or now cost and the food and lodging is cheaper.

Every been on a vacation and thought what if I lived her full time and thought maybe I should consider relocating there? Maine is so much of what is missing where 8 out of 10 people live… in an urban setting.

Small Maine towns like Houlton in Aroostook County.

Barrels of money not needed to enjoy them like many expensive tourist trap locations. Simple camping, trail hiking, lake or river canoeing or kayaking.

You’re in Maine, surrounded by unlimited natural beauty whether high atop Mt Katahdin looking out over the landscape.

Or on your boards at the summit of Mars Hill Mountain’s Big Rock, Quoggy Joe or some other small Northern Maine ski area.

Plenty Of Parking At A Maine Ski Area Or A Small School Soccer Game. Welcome To Maine!

Everything is low or no cost which amplifies the enjoyment of all Northern Maine, Southern Aroostook and Houlton Maine.

Constant opening up the wallet wide is taken out of the picture here.

You can let go and get caught up in the vast open space and outdoor natural setting.

The down to Earth people here want to share suggestions on what to do for fun.

Locals are proud of where they live and will answer questions to make sure your visit is worthwhile and memorable.

In small Maine towns like Houlton, everyone is an ambassador.

The circles are smaller, tighter, more intimate and everything moves more efficiently when the communities are really just like large families.

Whether it is a movie in the historic Temple Theatre, stepping up to order a Houlton Farms Dairy Bar ice cream treat.

Too Much Excitement Or Pacing Yourself With A Car Nap While Waiting To Go Water Skiing On A Maine Lake?

Or heading out to NIckerson Lake’s Crescent Park, Birch Point on Pleasant Lake or taking in the Million Dollar View in Weston Maine’s scenic turn out.

Welcome to Houlton Maine.

It’s not like this many other places. Far enough away from population centers to stay small, personable and off peace and quiet. Insulated from over commercialization or exploitation.

Loaded with all natural four season beauty, wildlife, woods, farms, waterways to discover. All kinds of wildlife, natural resources with crystal clean water, fresh air to tap.

In life it is not one size fits all.

And these days folks seem to have strong, louder opinions on what you should or should not be doing in your life.

Houlton Maine, Aroostook County. Home Of 2024 Total Solar Eclipse.

But maybe too small is just right because too big is impersonal and expensive.

In my job, I hear it a lot.”I want to run away from too many people, HOA’s and heavy layers of regulations and code enforcement”.

Or “I’m in Florida, Arizona Texas and burning up”. And lastly, “it’s too expensive where I live now and can not afford to retire here”.

If housing is too expensive where you live now, consider small town Houlton Maine real estate prices and selection.

When crime is high, traffic is heavy, small town Maine communities are such a contrast.

If where you live now people don’t smile, avoid making eye contact and keep to themselves, that’s not the feeling of community you get vacationing or living in small town Houlton Maine.

Houlton Maine Loaded With Grand Older Well Preserved Victorian Houses.

Walking to everywhere easily happens in small town Houlton Maine.

Leave your car or SUV or pick up parked with the keys in the vehicle.

Walk downtown, to the movies, to the tennis courts, baseball field, basketball court, along the Riverfront Park trail.

Get out, hoof it and see how folks smile and are friendly.We use our open porches and wave, say hello.

Getting Out Of The Maine Real Estate Office, Not Pinned To The Wall By A Desk.

Simple living, easier day to day interactions with local folks who want to help.

Ask for help.

What kind of experience are you looking for?

This blog post simply attempts to describe what greater Houlton Maine is like.

It’s up to you to feel whether a visit here is worth the time and expense to come sample this special corner of Maine.

Here to help and please ask us all your questions.

Love where I live and want to help save you money, to make your vacation stay memorable, whatever you need.

Call, text, email, send a carrier pigeon capsule or send a smoke signal.

Come visit us in Houlton Maine!

Thanks you for following our Me In Maine blog posts!

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker

207.532.6573 | info@mooersrealty.com |

MOOERS REALTY 69 North Street Houlton Maine 04730 USA

March 29, 2024
Last USA Total Solar Eclipse Houlton ME

Last USA Total Solar Eclipse Houlton ME.

The estimates are 10,000 up to 40,000 viewers taking the trek to the last USA Houlton Maine solar eclipse 2024. There are lots of logistics to plan to manage that many additional people heading to Aroostook County Maine. When you consider the total local small Maine town population is around 6000 happy souls. May be a little outnumbered but Houlton and the communities surrounding it are ready for a little company.

Plenty of long range problem solving, public discussions needed to happen and did for the total solar eclipse Houlton ME event April 8, 2024.

To pull of the solar eclipse event without a hitch for a positive experience takes everyone on the same page to how best to pull off the four day festival event.

Maine, The Way Life Should Be. One Big State, Lots Of Special Hidden Areas To Discover. Thought About Going To The Total Solar Eclipse In Houlton Maine?

What’s the big deal about a total solar eclipse?

Oh, I don’t know. Just the wrap up of the 13 state 2024 solar eclipse light show tour. A celestial astronomical event that is not going to cause totality again in my home town of Houlton Maine for hundreds of years. There is no rain date and no dress rehearsal. It’s showtime. Hit the lights.

Starting in Texas as the opening act, ending up just an hour later passing over Houlton Maine. Houlton Maine is lucky to be dead center for totality in the path of darkness bathing the Earth as it passes overhead.

Being a border town with Canada has a lot of perks.

The fun continues “over home” as we like to call Canada on this side of the border eh? My Dad’s mom, my grandmother Bessie Burtt was 100% Canadian red maple leaf DNA. Everyone is related back and forth on both sides of the USA / Canada International boundary line. You learn how to play better hockey on the solid sheet of frozen water at a Canadian ice arena.

Last USA total solar eclipse Houlton ME.

Big happenings with the 2024 total solar eclipse as it exits Maine, enters New Brunswick Canada.

Houlton Maine, Last Place To Experience Totality, The Total Solar Eclipse 2024! (Poster copyright by local Mainer Cynthia Taylor Studios)

The solar eclipse 2024 continues rolling on without stopping at customs and immigration inspections thru New Brunswick into Atlantic Canada, then out to sea.

So opening up the highways leading to your small Maine home town. This blog post is about rolling out the red carpet, firing up the welcome wagon. What’s involved in a slightly more complex event with all these out of town visitors. Attendance was high at last night’s meeting, lots of questions and brain storming at one of many solar eclipse gatherings at the Houlton High School auditorium.

What about cell phones and are the local tower systems designed for up to 40,000 visitors for the 4 day festival?

The extra load on communications, Internet, highways, local services, EMS. Traffic flow, what roadways to make one way? Coordinating public safety with the local Houlton Maine police working hand in hand with state police, sheriff’s patrol, US border patrol. I wondered about street lamps on sensors coming on to take away from the afternoon totality black out in Houlton Maine.

Where do you plan to view the eclipse wearing your special eye protection glasses?

Mt Katahdin, the very top would be a crowded place if Baxter Park was open to hikers in April which it is not. Or the site for the Waston Settlement covered bridge in Littleton that is a whisker north of Houlton Maine.

Houlton Maine, Aroostook County. Home Of Totality, The 2024 Total Solar Eclipse.

Local WHOU radio station and Channel 8 public service announcements to keep the public in the know of what to expect.

Solar totality blog posts, Houlton Pioneer Times and Bangor Daily News read all about the latest developments during planning and the actual eclipse festival event. Folks toying with the idea of traveling to Houlton Maine for the total eclipse. They all need to know all about the area, the festival of events, places to stay, where to eat and what to do for fun.

Questions, Answers, Updates From Houlton Maine Eclipse Planners Sharing The Houlton High School Auditorium Stage Last Night.

It’s a lot different than when this is your fourth, seventh or a yearly tradition to know what to expect for the next one.

There is no minutes from the wrap up meeting of last year’s total solar eclipse in Houlton Maine to re-read and build on. Learning from past years lessons to fine tune and tighten up the event are not here to glean.

Adjustments and refinement, like we make yearly to the Houlton Fair, Rotary Auction, Northern Maine Soap Box Derby or Moosestompers etc local events.

Those are easy because something to build on and either worked or did not from experience on each recurring yearly event. This is like the first ever let’s send some astronauts to Moon and back exercise. Risks, weather, expenses and unknowns on just how many people will show up in Houlton Maine wearing solar glasses.

Mark Hovarth, Holder Of A PHD In Astronomy Teaches The Houlton Maine Audience About Solar Eclipses.

The AirBnB and VRBO vacation sites, local motels for lodging are booked solid.

Local folks are opening up their houses, camps, cottages as extra places to stay. Transportation with five buses so far to shuttle solar eclipse watchers, event goers opening up local options to help shuttle all these guests. Want to be an Uber or Lyft operator for a weekend and have a clean driver’s license? Lots of ways to monetize the solar eclipse event.

Parking lots, places to camp with tents, RV’s on open land near the festivities. Lots of opportunities for local property owners to consider sharing their private location for eclipse watchers this April 8th,2024. Parking your vacation on wheels rig at Walmart store #1974? Only so many spaces for the last USA Total Solar Eclipse.

Big Green Bridge To Maine. Heading Up I-95 To Attend The 4 Day Festival Solar Eclipse In Houlton Maine. You Going?

The last solar eclipse in 1963 taught locals much but it’s been a few years.

You can read to learn what to do, what to avoid online accounts are helpful. But experience with something of this magnitude and event planning that started years ago. The weather forecast, time of year affectionately known as “mud season”.

How much food to order, like a cruise ship, the best way to serve it up without long lines, big delays or bottle necks.

How to assure a fire truck or ambulance or police officer can respond to an emergency situation with all the traffic and wall to wall people. When you have around a 6000 population, the getting ready for possible six times or more that number of people roaming around in your small Maine community is exciting.

Where Are You? Houlton Maine Welcomes You To The April 8th 2024 Totality. Ever Experienced A Total Solar Eclipse? You Are Invited To Houlton Maine For One!

Lots of jobs and responsibilities for paid staff and volunteers to pull together to make the event a positive experience.

It makes a small Maine community pull together and work hard to tackle the known and unknowns. Stay tuned for more in future posts in this Maine blogging channel.

Communicating what is happening as the event schedule fills up and the calendar days accelerate toward April 8th, 2024’s total solar eclipse.

Maine Humorist, Tim Sample From Fort Fairfield Part Of The Houlton Maine Total Eclipse 2024!

The count down toward totality, the last place in continental USA for a total solar eclipse in Houlton Maine.

Local eclipse watchers to crane their necks skyward to view the light show wearing eye protection. This celestial chain of events is once in a lifetime for most. Protect the peepers and avoid life long damage by covering up eyes to filter out the harmful, powerful Sun please.

This simple video shows you what happens that causes wildlife to hush and everything goes dark in Houlton Maine’s total eclipse.

The area 15 churches and counting are onboard and working together for warming areas, additional places to dine according to Hollie McAffee.

Besides church groups, eclipse planner Hollie McAfee says the local area snowmobile, fish and game clubs, area schools are coming together. Any gym, barn, warehouse is fair game to retool and use for some aspect of the total darkness in Houlton Maine. 10,000 of the 60,000 special safety approved eclipse eye glasses are given free to the area schools. Safety talks and reminders how to not damage your eyes for life education is so critical.

Totality, The Scientific Parts Of A Total Solar Eclipse In Houlton Maine.

I remember the 1963 partial eclipse in Houlton Maine.

My 3 older brothers, mom and dad were ready to watch through welder’s glass for eye protection. But many of my friends were rushed inside into rooms with the blinds and shades pulled down.

As local panel speaker Mark Horvath, holder of a PHD in astronomy warned the group. During last night’s Q&A public session, he told the group you don’t want the total solar eclipse blinding light as the Moon slides away from between the Sun and Earth to be the last thing you ever see.

What Happens During A Solar Eclipse. Total Or Partial Events, What Happens?

Safety first and last. Burning your retina and doing damage of any degree to your eyes is not worth it.

Dumpsters, is 100 porta potties enough? Do we need more venues for dining and how to creatively open up extra lodging options? More varied event entertainment, food trucks, pop up businesses and parking, spacing. Five star parks sponsored and designated for group watching as of this date.

The list of what’s going on for eclipse events grows and changes daily.

Learned last night the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd is ordering 1500 fresh lobsters, steaming them up, adding a baked potato and home made whoopie pies. Last USA Total Solar Eclipse Houlton Maine, you planning the trip north?

The Event Calendar For 4 Day Eclipse Festival Continues To Grow. Stay Tuned For The Calendar Of Events.

Locals are told to get your prescriptions filled, fuel up your vehicles before the mass exodus to the final total solar eclipse 2024 in Houlton Maine.

Like preparing for a Maine storm, stock up on what you need while you can buy it from local stores. School is off, local businesses are encouraged to free up their work force to create additional labor for the solar eclipse 4 day festival. It like a Monday national holiday in Houlton Maine.

Last USA total solar eclipse Houlton Maine.

The climax being the 2:22 to 4:41 April 8th here we go. The actual total solar eclipse is 3:32 to 3:35 PM April 8th, 2024.

The last major crowd traveling through “The County” was one of the two Phish concerts held at former Loring Air Force

Base in Limestone Maine. It is estimated 65,000 music lovers following their favorite band traveled up into Aroostook County a few years back for the outdoor live musical event. Some band followers and music lovers missed the Houlton I-95 Exit 302 and ended up in Canada. But that is a ‘hole ‘nother story for another Maine blog post.

So, Last USA Total Solar Eclipse Houlton Maine, here is why the math has to be just so for planet Earth, the Moon and Sun.

The Moon, Earth, Sun All Have A Major Part In A Solar Eclipse.

The full schedule for the four days of family fun events continues to be added to in Houlton, Presque Isle, Caribou and over into New Brunswick, Canada.

Guided historical walking tours, Howl At The Moon Dueling Piano Show, John Cariani presents “Almost Maine”, Maine author and comedian Tim Sample, Blackfly Brewfest, 3.32 mile road race, astronaut talk, solar system bus tour & planetarium visit. And so much more being added and updated daily.

Lots of fun, food, bring the entire family. Share the eclipse 2024 event with all your friends on social media outlets please.

More on places to stay in Houlton Maine. Where to eat in Houlton Maine.

What Is Happening, What Needs To Get Squared Away Before April 9th’s Solar Eclipse?

The party celebration happens before, during, after the total eclipse ends in Houlton Maine and continues across into Canada.

More to come as the event gets closer and the schedule of events firms up to help you have the best experience possible. Reach out with questions and here to help as a local lifelong native of Houlton Maine. Everyone is an ambassador of Houlton Maine and home town proud. Here’s Market Square, one of your five local star parks to observe with facilities and friends the solar eclipse. Why not attend the last USA Total Solar Eclipse Houlton Maine?

In this video, Market Square Houlton Maine used as a farmers market venue.

What are you doing around April 8th, 2024?

Last USA total solar eclipse Houlton Maine. Have you ever witnessed a total or partial eclipse in your lifetime? There is a major difference between the two. Here’s your chance to travel to Houlton Maine for an out of this World experience. Want to volunteer or help underwrite the tremendous expense to open up a small Maine community for a total solar eclipse? Reach out and let the Maine Eclipse folks know you want to volunteer time, money or both and help in any way.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker

207.532.6573 | info@mooersrealty.com |

MOOERS REALTY 69 North ST Houlton Maine 04730 USA

January 26, 2024
Total Solar Eclipse In Houlton Maine Tips

Total solar eclipse in Houlton Maine tips.

A total solar eclipse only happens every 100 years or so in a given location. A solar eclipse occurs when the Sun, Moon and Earth orbits align. The Moon gets caught in the middle of the three objects causing a 50 mile wide shadow traveling across on Earth.

Houlton Maine is the state’s darkest point during the next total solar eclipse this spring.

Houlton ME, Everyone’s Excited About The Total Solar Eclipse April 8, 2024!

This blog post offers more information, helpful tips if you plan a trip to experience the total solar eclipse in Houlton Maine, Aroostook County’s oldest town.

How to get here, where to stay, places to eat and things to do while in Houlton Maine for the black out total solar eclipse experience.

On Monday, April 8, 2024, at 3:32 in the afternoon, the Houlton Maine total solar eclipse will last 3 minutes, 18 seconds.

That’s not that long really. Just about the time you spend listening to Marvin Gaye’s “Heard It Through The Grapevine”. (Gladys Knight and The Pips, not Marvin did the song originally by the way).

The view of the total solar eclipse happens west to east and in a specific location as the Earth rotates. Maine is the last of 13 states of totality the solar eclipse passes over April 8th, 2024.

The last Maine solar eclipse was July 20th, 1963 that spotlighted Bangor ME as the center host city.

I was seven, remember my school teachers telling us what an eclipse was and what causes one. My parents making sure we had welder’s dark glass on to see the partial solar eclipse on the Maine farm I grew up and still own in Houlton Maine.

Everyone in Maine is hoping for clear skies to observe the solar eclipse in April.

Houlton Maine, The Place To Be For The Total Solar Eclipse April 8th, 2024!

The next one is aways off in 2079 with two lunar and two solar eclipses. I may sit that one out, how about you?

They are not the same, lunar and solar eclipses.

With a lunar eclipse the Earth passes between the Sun and the Moon, creating a shadow on the Moon. When the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, a shadow is cast on the Earth.

Houlton Maine, GPS coordinates 46.126, -67.84 is four leaf clover lucky to be dead center in the path of totality for the stargazing maximum effect.

Your trip to experience the total solar eclipse can expanded to take in lots of other special area events.

Learn more on what the Northern Maine community has planned for upcoming solar eclipse celestial cosmic celebration. This Me In Maine blog post gets updated as we get closer to the big event overhead in the sky.

How to get here? It’s easy to travel to Aroostook County. Located at the beginning of Interstate 95, Houlton Maine is a border town, lots of perks.

You’re at the US / Canada border customs and immigration International crossing, just after passing the Houlton Maine I-95 exit 302 and 305 choices. Exit 302 gets you to the town of Houlton, exit 305 is the last stop at Houlton International Airport and industrial park.

Do you own a small private plane and think it would be fun to fly into Houlton Maine?

You could draw up a flight plan to KHUL for the solar eclipse in Houlton Maine. You could also fly into Presque Isle Airport and rent a car to motor around the area. Make a vacation in Northern Maine seeing the eclipse, checking out the neat communities around Houlton Maine.

If you prefer driving, after a few simple border port of entry questions, you can also continue on along the Gateway to the Atlantic Canadian provinces.

It’s more than the the solar eclipse to enjoy while visiting Northern Maine. Solar totality darkness continues over Carleton County New Brunswick. The solar eclipse 50 mile wide swatch of darkness does not have to stop at customs and immigration inspections. More on Woodstock New Brunswick Canada’s solar eclipse community page.

US Rt 1, 2, 2A also connect in Houlton Maine.

Houlton Maine, Aroostook County Town Where Totality Happens During The Solar Eclipse.

Folks in Portland, Lewiston, Augusta, Bangor and elsewhere down country in Maine will have to travel North to experience totality in this next solar eclipse. Houlton Maine is definitely at the cross roads for transportation.

Much is planned prior to and after the total solar eclipse events in Houlton Maine.

Where to stay? Here is a list of local motels, lodges, camp grounds and a list of Houlton Maine area landlords too. Camping out on Maine land, folks in RV’s just needing a place to get off the road. Everyone locally is joining forces to come together with housing, camping, lodging options for eclipse lovers. List of things to do for fun in Houlton Maine. Working up an appetite?

Small Town Houlton Maine, Walk To Everything Easy!

Where to eat in Houlton Maine.

Houlton Maine, Last Chance, Last Place To Experience Totality, The Total Solar Eclipse 2024! Totally Houlton Maine Totality!

Lots more dining options than local Houlton Maine restaurants, diners and cafes. Local snowmobile clubs, the farmer’s museum, civic, school and church groups all rally together to make sure no one goes hungry or unfed.

Everyone is a buzz and gearing up for the Houlton Maine Eclipse Festival fun! This solar eclipse event is truly a regional task to tackle. Many are involved in rolling out the red VIP welcome carpet to make all visitors feel right at home! All are invited to come north to experience total darkness planetary show happening April 8th, 2024 at 3:32 PM. Don’t forget your eye viewing protection or locally you can pick up what you need for the eclipse watching glasses.

There are four kinds of solar eclipses and experiencing totality is the most exciting and by far memorable.

The temperature drops, animals act differently, everything goes dark along with many stages before, during, after the total solar eclipse.

The Earth, Moon And Sun Getting Together To Create A Total Solar Eclipse In Houlton Maine.

What to expect, what exactly happens during a total solar eclipse?

The National Geographic folks describe the solar eclipse phenomenon!

Things to remember planning for the solar eclipse in Northern Maine.

Our friends at NASA that have lots of outer space experience share these solar eclipse tips.

Follow the official website of the Houlton Maine Total Solar Eclipse for updates and additional information.

Also, around Aroostook County, more about the solar eclipse here. “Over home” as we like to call the province of New Brunswick Canada and beyond, here is what is planned in Woodstock’s solar eclipse on the other side of the border. A million people are on the move to track and witness the 2024 solar eclipse.

More from a Maine television broadcasting outlet Newscenter report.

Thinking about a little vacation up in Northern Maine, a road trip to look up and see, feel the awesome power of a total solar Maine eclipse?

Here for questions, getting around Southern Aroostook County, over into Canada,eating, lodging, directions and who to contact for help! Glean all the logistics from a lifelong local native if you plan to be in Houlton Maine area for the total solar eclipse.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker

207.532.6573 | info@mooersrealty.com |

MOOERS REALTY 69 North ST Houlton ME 04730 USA

January 15, 2024
Maine Maple Sunday

Maine Maple Sunday, a yearly event in Vacationland.

Heading to the maple grove woodlots to tap trees, run lines for the golden syrup. Or the Maine home owner digs out the spouts, the snowshoes. Who taps the stately maple shade trees using buckets out front their house.

Sugar Shacks Open House In Smyrna Maine.

Lots of Mainers own woodlots to heat their homes and for recreation camp getaways.

Many Maine home owners have maple tree lined driveways. Dotting, shading along the street or road out front of their houses. Maine Maple Sunday is a big deal and it’s the 40th event this weekend. Always remember, it’s the last Sunday in March when sugar shacks and maple syrup producer distilleries open up their operations for old and young alike.

Inviting you in to witness up close and personal the 40 to 1 boiling down evaporating process. Before that the trip to the Maine woodlot to collect what runs in the lines or fills the galvanized buckets. You will also see the finished products made with pride of Maine produced pure maple syrup. Not some watered down from who knows where and all those artificial additives and colors.

Watch A Maine Maple Sunday Weekend Open House Sugarhouse Video Tour!

Tap It In, Open Up The Faucet To Maine Maple Tree Sap. That’s The Easy Part.

Many Maine land owners have forest timber stands of maple hardwood trees that are idea for tapping the sap to make syrup.

The old fashion bucket collection system is slow and labor intensive but still fun to celebrate the approaching spring. Colder nights, warmer days and being outside collecting sap is a family tradition. I grew up doing it with my Dad who loved the woods. Creating home grown tap sap for your own Maine maple syrup! Ever done it? Would you like to?

It Costs More, But Maine Maple Syrup Is Pure And Natural. Not Loaded With Fructose, Additives, Preservatives.

Many trips to the Ludlow Maine woodlot to collect annual renewable firewood and the maple tree sap for syrup.

It’s all about just enjoying a Sunday afternoon picnic in your private woodlot loaded with wildlife. Just wildlife, nature to witness, no two legged critters to spoil the experience.

Maine Maple Syrup Sunday Weekend! Ever Toured A Sugarhouse In Maine? Watch Maine Maple Syrup Video.

Snow still on the ground, its is always the last one at the party to leave in wooded tracts of Maine land.

Hanging around in the Maine woodlots and when warmer day temperatures happen. Snow in Maine, always the last place to melt and disappear in woodlots. It’s why diehard snowmobiling continues longer on forest trails.

Maine Maple Sap Bucket Collects The Clear Watery Sap That Boils Down To Thick Amber Maple Syrup.

All those tall stately trees shading out the growing strong sun. That’s what extends winter snowscape a tad longer if you want a little more Maine snow sled trail riding time.

It’s more than the ritual of collecting maple tree sap to boil it down for the amber elixir that’s all natural.

Maple Sunday Weekend in Maine represents spring. One more sign that winter is waning, the long shadow of the low on the horizon sun is shifting its angle. Hope and faith that spring is ahead helps true Mainers dig out their garden and farm seed catalogs. It shows acceptance that winter is passing by and ready to fill the rear view mirror.

What you See On Maine Winter, Early Spring Recreation Trails. Wildlife, Scenery, A Bald Eagle, Moose.

Buds on the trees, early bulb flowers poking up through the ground around your Maine house foundation.

Snow banks receding, peppered with road sand and salt remains. Dusty, dirty. battle weary. Some lawns look like a bomb hit and a war was fought. Deep gouges with missing sod, thanks to the snow plow operator who did not lift the blade an inch or two when the ground is soft. Lots of gravel and road sand needing raking to remove. Spring run off from months of Maine snow increasing the smelting speed. The width of brooks, streams and rivers that grow exponentially this time of year.

Some places in rural Maine there is flooding that crosses back roadways for a few hours or a couple days.

Excitement about new flowers, the fragrant and colorful floral displays that happen on their own in Maine. It’s all ahead and exciting. Every Maine season offers it’s own special version of outdoor beauty. They work together. Like fall explosive colors are a second bloom of what happened over summer. There is overlap and tag team tug of war in the Maine season transition. It’s not snap your fingers quick and easy.

The Many Flowers You See On Your Orono ME Bog Walk. Bring Your Camera!

Dig out your kayak and canoe to ride the waves around the state of Maine canoe race circuit.

We’re Going In, Gonna Get Wet.

Potholes blooming along streets and frost heaves forming in the old familiar places on Maine highways. Smelts running to fish net.

Maine maple Sunday, it happens for the 40th year on March 26th, 2023.

Sap collection, it’s a form of farming. Just like harvesting fish off the coast of Maine is too. Not just rows of planted seeds or seedlings. More than just fence posts planted or straighten and lines run around Maine pasture fields for critter containment. And to keep the wildlife on the other side where they belong.

Homesteading in Maine.

It’s picked up a resurgence since COVID turned on the bright harsh last call lights indicating you have to go. We don’t care where you go but you can’t stay here. It’s plenty sobering when home does not feel so home sweet home anymore.

Pack up to move to Maine.

Lots are doing it and I have read the state of Maine is number two for where folks pick for their new home base. Maine Maple Weekend Sunday is one more fun thing to do. To get out and observe when you are lucky enough to spend more than just a long weekend or seven day string of rest and relaxation in Vacationland.

Agriculture, Farm Food Grown Close To Home, Locally Sourced Is The Best Tasting. Want To Homestead In Maine?

In Maine grocery stores, you have lots of choices for maple syrup.

You find your log cabin or lady with the head scarf brands of maple syrup to drizzle. Most from Vermont, some from Canada, more and more from Maine. But searching for the Maine made all natural maple syrup, the little jug of close to home grown oozing sweetness is not always there.

Or the $15 dollar sticker price can cause pause, temporary pain and suffering in the grocery aisles.

Until you remember how good, how natural and nothing artificial Maine maple syrup is. And you have a local farmer tending the Maine maple tree sap collecting operation. Support your Maine producer because no farmer, no food.

The Solitude, Peaceful Feeling Of The Maine Woods In Winter. Don’t Miss Maine Maple Sunday This 40th Year.

See the list of all the open houses for Maine Maple Sunday weekend outlets and visit one or two near you that dot the link map.

Maple syrup is not just for lathering up pancakes and waffles with melting butter as a playmate. Lubricating stacks of jacks at breakfast time wakey wakey is not the only time to enjoy maple syrup.

Maple syrup is a sweetener for anything from candy to cake to pies, for dressings, a companion to scoops of ice cream.

Coffee for many just tastes better with a shot or two of Maine maple syrup. Discovered long before the turbo this, double shot of that mist topping of caramel swirl.

Coffee Early In The Morning The Old Fashion Way! Get To Maine, Relax, Breathe.

Try a little maple syrup for the home brewed cup of Joe.

Instead of shelling out daily for the expensive red, blue, whatever exotic dye color addiction drive through fix. The reach for the gotta have the designer hot or cold coffee mainline or you will die right here and now. It’s an expensive daily ritual of hot and ready for many. You see the long long lines outside the drive thru of all the Maine coffee hound baristas locations.

The life or death sustenance of artificial life, fill it to the brim to win la-di dah latte.

The burn your hand even with a double sleeve, lava hot center of the sun blistering temperature money grab. The first thing on your mind when the eyelids go north.

The addiction that kept you awake half the night.

And Chummy, if you don’t get your special blend of foo foo coffee concoction with a triple pump of extra coconut oat almond milk shot please. Well now, life as you know it wired on caffeine is just not going to be as brightly colored orhalf the fun. Just sayin’.

Sorry for the rant. Don’t get me wrong. I love my basic black fresh brewed cup of coffee without all the Hollywood after affects. Missing the boat on all those extra expensive, time in line consuming ingredients to jazz up the coffee break experience.

Maybe I am missing something.

Just want a quick pit stop and not a coffee snob. Keep it simple. Make it black. Pitch black. Darker than the inside of a color black. (Pouring in a jigger of pure and natural Maine maple syrup) It’s always a good time for a cup of coffee and fellowship, communion in the great state of Maine outdoor landscape. Early morning parked next to a Maine lake is my happy place. Have another cup? Well, yes please if you’re up and pouring. Hit me with a little maple syrup, gotta give it a try.

Back on blog post topic for Maple syrup, the sugar shack open house weekend for local Maine producers.

Every maple syrup producer in Maine can claim to be the best and they are all right.

Fresh Hot Coffee, Whatever Meal Tastes Improves After Maine Farm Chores Complete. Try Some Maine Maple Syrup On The Flap Jacks, In Your Coffee.

These hard working Maine maple grove tree tapping sap collecting folks want to share an experience.

To show you how the process goes and all the many maple syrup by products out there to enjoy. Maple syrup, more than just a pancake or waffle meal pleasure experience.

Have you ever been to a Maine maple syrup open house Sunday? You know what all the ink spilling is all about then. If not, you should celebrate spring. Support your local Maine maple syrup producer.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker

207.532.6573 | info@mooersrealty.com |

MOOERS REALTY 69 North ST Houlton ME 04730 USA

March 22, 2023
High School Class Reunions In Maine | How To Make Attendance Higher

High school class reunions in Maine.

How to make attendance higher at Maine high school reunions? This blog post about a recent high school reunion in Maine I attended and reasons why or why not classmates attend one.

For starters, COVID messed up the in person Maine high school class reunions for a few years.

High School Reunions In Maine, How To Make Attendance Increase?

Or you could argue more people could attend a cyber class reunion using ZOOM technology. But we all know online meet ups are just not the same. How do you mingle and move around the room in a ZOOM meeting?

You don’t get to make the rounds to personally see and talk with your high school class group sitting up straight peering into a video camera.

So high school class reunions in Maine. Here are tips to make the attendance the best it can be. What to do and what to avoid to cause great participation at a Maine class reunion.

First, in small Maine towns, lots of the high school classmates still live local for the reunion.

Some of them moved away, climbed up the ladder, joined the service or left for many reasons. Some away classmates relocated and then later in life returned to their small town Maine roots for a simpler lifestyle.

High School Class Reunions In Maine, How To Improve Attendance Numbers?

Cheaper Maine real estate and cashing in the chips with high priced urban properties.

Trading it all in for no crime, no traffic the push to return back to small Maine town living.

If you already live local and are in the biggest group, a high school class reunion should be a piece of cake to gain large attendance.

This is the biggest group yet often the hardest to get to attend your class reunion. Why?

Fear of I am not quite successful enough to attend my high school class reunion.

Not wanting to be judged or comfortable with your answers to “what have you been up to since we graduated from a Maine high school?”. Some classmates attended their fifth or tenth class reunion and got a dose of “why did you stay in your home town” questioning. I thought you were smarter than that is the inference from anyone in your class out to impress you with their Worldly success.

High School Class Reunion, Where To Have It In Maine?

Made to feel like a “loser local” or hearing continuously about me me my success in life by just a few not so warm and fuzzy classmates can be disastrous.

For some wanting to see old high school classmates but secretly hoping a few just don’t make it home to attend they view toxic.

Some argue the high school class reunions are not so needed due to social media keeping everyone up to date. Heck, you even get notifications when it is someone’s birthday. People already feel connected and can catch up or get updated online on a regular basis.

Were you active in your high school class or moved away before graduation?

Were there several clicks in your high school or one big happy family with lots of spirit? Let’s face it, some high school classes just were tighter knit and the chemistry more connected.

High School Reunions, What To Serve Up For Hungry Classmates?

Small high school class size in Maine towns has something to do with it too. When your graduating class was in the teens or under one hundred, you were closer. No one forgotten or lost in the shuffle. And smaller class size Maine high school graduates I think make a bigger effort to attend.

It is harder to miss who did not come in a small high school class then one from Maine’s handful of city larger class size reunions.

High school class reunions in Maine, it’s a lot like a family reunion too.

The bigger the family, the more like a reunion it feels when more make the effort to show up on the magic day. With all the generations in the family bringing their covered dish or whatever contribution to the family party celebration.

What To Serve up To Eat During The High School Meet And Greet?

Some families are closer than others just like Maine high school classes. With families, who married into it can be a blessing or cause division. At a class reunion, who they married does not impact the attendance as much. Unless at the last reunion someone drank too much or flirted or just did not like all the old high school information shared with their new spouse.

So, was the high school reunion experience a good one for the classmate?

If yes, why wouldn’t they want to attend each and every reunion? Unless sickness, distance away or timing was an obstacle, some classmates from far away always make the most effort to attend the reunion.

The high school classmates handy to the reunion who do not attend.

Have they forgotten the ones from out of state and feel they get to see everyone local already? Unless you pick up an old high school year book and thumb through the images once in a while, it is easy to lose touch. Until you see or hear about a classmate’s death, and feel we need to have a high school reunion. It’s later than you think and none of us is getting any younger by the day right?

High School Reunion On Drews Lake In New Limerick ME!

So more tips to improve attendance of your Maine high school class reunion.

Pick a good easy to access high school reunion venue, like Tall Timber Lodge in New Limerick on Drews Lake. There is a cost for the out of town or state classmate to attend. But regardless if local or not, a personal contact by email, snail mail, social media postings have to happen. Watch a video on Drews Lake island property sold a while back but that gives you a feeling of what the Northern Maine waterfront location is like.

If you want to improve attendance, effort to show each and every classmate no one is left behind has to be obvious. The classmates that were in the flock until eighth grade or moved away should be invited to the reunion too. Those that were in one high school but finished the education in another. It can be like a ball player traded mid season and like a man or woman without a country in not feeling like you belong. The class reunion attendance improving approach has to always be “not member left behind”.

Who’s Changed The Least, Most? Who Traveled The Most Miles To Get To The Class Reunion?

“Also, no one let me know until the last minute. “

That’s a huge excuse for why some classmates missed the Maine class reunion. But is it the truth? When high school reunion notices were mailed, emailed, with follow up texts and personal calls. Even getting your family to sound the bugle charge to retreat, return to your class reunion.

Or what if the high school experience was not so much fun or you were not so social, not a scholar or an athlete? For some they ran away from their home town high school or parents relocated, divorced and severed the connection.

Why would you want to go to the expense, take the time to hang out with a group of classmates and a high school you spent years trying to escape?

Is that how you feel about your high school class? Let’s face it, some of us are more social than others. Or high school was a struggle for lots of personal reasons.

Maybe a few in your class are the last people on Earth you would want to spend a few hours with after all these years. Or do you fall in this group “I attended the 10th high school reunion, found little in common with my fellow classmates who I shared those four years of high school. Went to the 20th reunion under pressure from my best friend and it was even worse.”

“Everyone Line Up, Tallest In Back, Shorter Ones In Front Class! “

So now there may be mini high school reunions where a few in your class stay in touch and it is pick and choose. If the “reunion” is a few classmates critique members in a not so favorable way when they do “meet up”, that could be a big reason why so low a turnout to milestone events.

The cost of the reunion, especially in the early class meet ups can be a factor.

Was the event lavish and expensive or simple and low cost to appeal to a larger audience? Did the high school reunion committee work long and hard or was their disention in the planning ranks? Too many, too little planners for the reunion?

The many little reasons that help or hurt attendance means awareness of how people decide should I go or not?

The more reunions you miss, the harder getting classmates to go becomes. Some don’t view high school graduation as that big a deal. Many argue I “peaked” outside of the halls and classrooms of their high school. Done, finished, not going back to their high school reunion.

Hopping Table To Table To Meet, Greet, Catch Up At A Maine High School Class Reunion.

Or what if your small Maine high school is no longer?

Lost are the game balls in a trophy case, class colors and the gym, classrooms, cafeteria because the school is no longer. Merged with a larger school administration district SAD or RSU.

I’ve been told “you feel out of the loop”. The feeling only intensifies the more reunions you don’t attend. So just go to the next one, l heard someone whisper in the blog post audience. Like a church invitation that is always open for you to attend.

The invite that says “you can always come home”.

All’s forgiven, here’s this week’s program and all the church bulletin happenings to get you up to speed and back in the flock. Many who do attend class reunions is because they sincerely want to reunite and see old friends, recall school stories. These folks wish there were more class reunions.

“I’m over weight, just went through a divorce, or oh, I wasn’t that close to anyone in my class.” Good excuses and how some decide I’m not going to this or any of my class reunions. For some, I could wait to get out of town and after the graduation, I high tailed to the big city lights. Rippe3d off the rear view mirrors and never looked back.

I didn’t graduate from this Maine high school.

Was that the reason not to go or were they even invited to the class reunion? Don’t overlook anyone in your class and make an effort to find their location. In this day and age of Internet connection, it is easier than ever to “Google” someone. To search Facebook, other social media platforms to find your classmate. Without the “return to sender” experience.

High School Class Reunions Deceased Members. Sad But Part Of The Reunion Head Count And Catching Up Process.

Calling other local classmate’s family to get them to help invite the MIA’s is good recruiting too.

You really ought to go to your class reunion Maine high school.

And put an extra emphasis on if you have not been to any class reunion, you especially are missed and classmates so happy to see you. Or your spouse helps push you to the event with or without them.

But what if that spouse views your class reunion as torture being in a room where probably half the attending have no connection to the class. Or maybe they do and married a classmate, someone a couple years older or younger who is anxious to attend.

Time of year, trying to schedule a class reunion for your Maine high school when out of towners are home anyway helps your attendance.

Cost, menu, venue, timing impacts attendance whether everyone has a good time or not.

Class Reunions For Your High School In Maine? Do You Go? Why Or Why Not?

The program for a Maine high school class reunion, how do you make sure everyone has a good time? The year you graduated music that is like a time machine transporting your class back to high school. Alcohol, can it help or hurt the class reunion. Everyone comes away glad they came and thinking about the next reunion because of the success.

And isn’t the entertainment beside music is good food, the classmates themselves?

Remembering the good times, paying respects for those you lost as the Maine high school class year size of the living shrinks?

Apathy, because of overbooked living or because high school classes differ? Some more rah rah rah school spirit and others “meh”? I know some high school classes that just were tighter, like one big Maine family that stays together closer during and after graduation.

Maine class reunions, the effort to attend important or thinking the high school event has gone the way of the hoola hoop, chia pets, cherry cokes, drive ins, mullets, bobby socks, penny loafers and cracker jacks? What’s your experience with high school class reunions and any tips on how to increase attendance?

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker

207.532.6573 | info@mooersrealty.com | MOOERS REALTY 69 North ST Houlton ME 04730 USA

September 6, 2022
Small Maine Town Fire, Everyone Pitches In To Help

Small Maine town fire, anything happening in the local community good or bad means everyone pitches in to help.

You don’t go through any local event alone. Last week a fire in my home town of Houlton Maine. Thirty eight people were displaced in the fourteen unit apartment building fire.

The old timers remember the 1902 fire that wiped out a big chunk of Aroostook County’s oldest town.

1902 Great Fire In Houlton Maine, 111 Buildings Losts In The Blaze.

That turn of the century town fire burned 3 churches, 75 houses, covered 20 business blocks. 80 families were displaced. In all, over 111 buildings were lost in that small town Houlton Maine fire.

The town of Houlton rebuilt with brick in the downtown.

The need for a rock solid fire department because a must in any small Maine town. To protect the structures, all the buildings. Wooden structures with cedar shingle roofing were no match for fires that were a constant concern to the locals in the small Maine town.

The Houlton Maine fire of March 23 happened around 9AM.

Watch the video clip in the above link. It was sunny, there was no wind, it was not the middle of the night on the coldest day of the year. The fire in the 14 unit building on Mechanic Street in Houlton took the life of a four year boy.

All area fire departments responded to the 911 alarm call.

Clearing the building out happened quickly and with a lot of hollering, much precision. Had the fire smoldered silently before engulfing the structure in the middle of the night, the loss of life would have been much large.

If that fire had happened with a strong northeast wind to fan it, not just the apartment building would have been lost.

Block after block of houses and anything built wooden in the fire’s path could have been consumed. The headline could have read “All houses in the path of the raging fire lost to the base of Drakes Hill”.

My secretary’s brother is retired from the Maine department of transportation and got a call. Doing anything today? David is retired and says what do you need? He races in from Linneus to hop in a Monticello fire department pumper. To make the many trips one block away to drop the hose and fill up the tanker. Using high spring run off water levels to siphon off the H2O from the Meduxnekeag River.

The local town public works department makes the rounds to top off and fuel up the many pieces of fire equipment battling the blaze too.

The Great Fire Of 1902. Brick Replaced Wood Structures In The Downtown As A Result Of The Blaze.

Flames shooting high in the air are doused with thousands of gallons of water through out the day and night. You don’t leave a structure fire even when the regular work day for most of us is over.

No no, someone sticks around and keeps an eye on the rubble and debris. Working in shifts to make sure nothing gets out of hand as the embers and coals of the blaze finally go out. Or try their hardest to rekindle and ignite again. It can take days babysitting any structure fire.

To remove the threat of fire doing any more damage in a small Maine town.

You think of the fire fighters using their years of training to preserve public safety. To get everyone out, to coordinate as a team to tackle and contain the fire.

Each fire a little different scenario to work around and the threat to life, both inside the structure or with the team trying to put the fire out. Local restaurants and take outs shuttle in the food to fuel the victims and fire fighters.

Local churches and the entire community takes on the role of how can I help?

When fourteen units are suddenly wiped out and everything you own inside is gone, there are so many needs. Clothing, furniture and foremost shelter, meals, support of all kinds. Emotional support and counseling to help all ages deal with the event.

The outpouring of support filters out into the communities surround the Maine small town fire location.

The local Millar Civic Center was used as a temporary shelter for all the displaced apartment renters. Arena ice just went out in the nick of time to become a make shift shelter. Finding an apartment as winter unwinds in a small Maine is not easy either.

In my little home town, there is a two percent vacancy rental rate.

Not everyone wants to be a landlord part of it. Some of the town’s empty units exist but for a reason. Too far gone with frozen pipes and worn out from being ridden hard and put away wet. Usually a foreclosure in the making but it can take years for the rudderless ship to finally run aground on shore. Court house steps and billable hours eat up lots of time in the over burdened COVID cause case back load. Just got off jury duty and was told by the judge in the black robe there were 1900 cases in the docket back log.

Here is a list of all the landlords for rents in Houlton Maine to tap and see if some unit is available to lease.

A local Louisiana Pacific OSB mill has a major expansion going on, the many subcontractors hogging anything available for livable rental units. Motel rooms are jammed with these workers, the snowmobilers who visit the region for some vacation rest and relaxation.

Renting a house for sale is usually short termed in today’s fast paced Maine real estate market.

No long term lease to sign and always month to month. With lots of buyers being toured inside and out of the house rented with a silent salesman for sale sign out front speared in the front lawn.

From Market Square, The Houlton Maine Apartment House Fire Smoke Billows Upward.

One empty apartment in a triplex I manage is available and two of the displaced fire victims are looking into renting it.

In a small town, it is easy to make a phone call or two, to facebook message someone to get information.

The renter themselves provides lots to help in finding the best fit for a rental unit.

Getting a reference is easier when you know the person you solicit to provide one. When you trust reference and their character, you get accurate information based on real live personal experiences with the individuals.

Houlton Maine Fire, 14 Rental Units Destroyed.

One of the renters has up to four grandchildren each weekend. The grandmother says those kids could be too noisy and boisterous for the tenant above and below in this 2nd floor apartment rental. She needs a place but does not want to bother any other building tenant.

The other renter may be going off to college and did not want to lead the landlord on that the leasing could be only until fall. If she goes on to college or not is up in the air.

My reference tells me this is a smart cookie, good person to rent to if a space becomes available. When she heard about the local apartment house fire, she told me she would invite this person into her own house to stay if need be. The is a pretty strong endorsement.

Bean suppers this weekend, donations for the fire victims are all underway and the community supports its own. The outpouring of generosity is huge and constant in a small Maine town. No matter what the disaster event that rocks the community.

Grateful for what did not happen.

Early Morning In A Small Maine Town. Lots Of Folks Up And Hard At Work Serving The Public.

That the fire was not in the early morning hours while everyone was sleeping.

That it was not the coldest day of the year with whipping winds to fan the blaze and cause it to spread to other structures. But the loss of a four year old in the blaze and prayers for others with burns. That thought haunts everyone in a small Maine town. We have the same gratitude for an ice arena roof cave in back in 1998. The building was empty when it went flat under the snow load. But no one wants to think about the loss of life if a game with hockey players, spectators, coaches, the zebra officials were playing a game during the roof collapse.

How the structure next door was not lost in the fire is just a testament to the fire fighters abilities.

The McPartland Plumbing and Heating brick building did get water damage from all those gallons of water soaking the tar and gravel roof. Fans to dry out the attic and business continues up and down Mechanic Street. Lots of moisture from all that water being applied next door and to the sides, roof of anything near the structure fire was done. Now recovery and repair to the damage underway.

Small Maine towns, they share a gold ball from a local basketball team that came out on top in a crucial game. Or they rally around the victims, their neighbors, friends, relatives when something grave happens like a structure fire in a multi unit apartment house.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker

March 29, 2022